# Gelsemium (HMT)

## Remedy Classification
- **Type:** Remedy
- **Miasm:** Syphilitic Miasm
- **Temperament:** Neutral
- **Aggravation Time:** Neutral/Anytime

## Keynote Indications
Gelsemium is prepared from jasmine bearing yellow flowers.  It is a
very frequently used Homoeopathic  medicine.  To an extent, it
resembles Aconite and Belladonna; however, diseases of Gelsemium
progress rather slowly compared  to both Aconite and Belladonna.
There is sudden rush of blood towa rds the head, causing headache.
The mouth becomes dry.  These three symptoms are common to
Aconite, Belladonna and Gelsemium.  In the case of Aconite, the face
is flushed and warm, but there is  n o  s u c h  w a r m t h  i n  c a s e  o f
Gelsemium.  Constitutionally, it is a cold remedy.  The mouth is dry,
yet there is no thirst. Gelsemium symptoms do not appear until after
two to three days after exposur e to the cold. Gelsemium would
certainly be indicated if a child contracts illness after having been
exposed to the cold.  If the illness comes on suddenly and severely
from exposure to cold, then Aconite and Belladonna combined will be
much more effective.

According to Dr. Kent, the symptoms of nasal catarrh set in a few
days after exposure to the cold.  On e might presume that being a cold-
natured medicine, Gelsemium’s illnesses would be more prevalent in
the winter and similarly the illn esses of Aconite would be more
prevalent in the summer.  In fact , the situation is the exact opposite
(Aconite is used more often in th e winter and Gelsemium more in the
summertime).  When one is exposed to cold in the summertime,
Gelsemium will be of greater bene fit.  Thus, Gelsemium is most
commonly used in dry, hot weather.  However, when acute dysentery
(along with the passing of lot of blood)  is contracted in the drier part
of the summer, Aconite will be the be st treatment to work and does so
equally well in the dry months of summer as well as winter.

Gelsemium is commonly used to treat headaches and catarrhal
illnesses but not for the treatment of diarrhoea.  However, it has been
found to work extremely well for the chronic type of diarrhoea
associated with the body being cold, a heaviness of the head and a
complete absence of thirst in spite of the mouth being dry.  Thus, it is
a treatment of diarrhoea as well.

In spite of the fact that the Ge lsemium ailments progress rather
slowly, it is rarely used in the treatment of chronic diseases.  Its use
has been confined to treat diseases of limited duration.  In Gelsemium,
the blood rushes towards the face a nd head.  The face becomes warm
though the hands and the feet are cold.  Similar is the case for Arnica.
The calves feel cold or even ice co ld.  These symptoms are also found
in Glonoine.  However, the difference between Gelsemium and
Glonoine is that in Gelsemium, th e hands and feet become cold but
there is no sweating, while in Glonoi ne, there is profuse sweating in
addition to the hands and feet becoming cold.  Du e to the straining of
the back muscles causing severe stiffness and spasms, the pain spreads
over the shoulders and up to the back of the head.  The stiffness of the
neck causes great difficulty in turn ing the neck.  The headache is
mostly on the right side.  Extreme spasm of the neck muscles
(torticolis) at night, is better treated with Gelsemium and Belladonna
combined.  In case the rigidity of the neck resembles meningitis, the
back does not feel cold but the hands and feet become cold.  In
addition to the severe muscular st iffness, the patient may become
convulsive but there is no associated  cyanosis.  In this condition, one
should not forget to use Gelsemium.

In Gelsemium, the patient is restless before going to sleep.  He fears
that he may not be able to sleep well.  The head starts hurting, while
still, there is no headache, per se .  The headache becomes worse on
sleeping (like Lachesis), though the overall picture of the patient is
still Gelsemium.  He does not sleep well.  By the time the patient has
got up in the morning, his headache has become very severe.  The one
difference between Gelsemium and L achesis is that the Gelsemium
pain does not remain confined to the head; instead, it radiates down
the shoulders up to the back of the head and is most often on the left
side.

Gelsemium is the antidote of Glonoi ne.  Combined with Natrum Mur,
it happens to become a complete immediate panacea.

Gelsemium is of great value for the treatment of women.  It will
immediately relieve the tightness of the cervix of the uterus  as well
as the associated lightning type of labour pains radiating to the back.
The tightness of the muscles of the back becomes released and the
child is delivered smoothly.  It is also of significant use in relieving
the severe backache accompanying the menstrual period, as well as
the chills and relentless fever due to infection.

A malarial fever, which comes on every day with a tendency to be
very high in the afternoon, will  respond well to Gelsemium.
Symptoms of Gelsemium become mu ch worse in the evening. On the
other hand, the symptoms of Arsenic are at their peak at midday and
midnight.  The pain of Kali Carb commences at about three o’ clock in
the afternoon while the symptoms of Gelsemium become worse
between four and seven o’clock.

The heartbeat is slow and weak .  Typically, the patient thinks that
his heart will beat as long as he keeps walking and will stop as soon as
he stops, as if the functioning of  the heart is being sustained by
physical movement.  Over the heart area there is a feeling of vacuum
and weakness.  The patient believes  that moving around is a must to
keep the heart functioning or it will  stop as soon as he sits down.
Slow walking is good to strengthen the heart gradually while sudden
rapid movement can do harm to it.  The heart of a Gelsemium patient
is weak and cannot bear sudden, severe  physical stress.  He will either
faint or may even die. Gentle physic al exercise gradually strengthens
the heart muscle so that it may subse quently be able to take relatively
rapid physical movement.

In Gelsemium, there is a feeling of weakness and emptiness at the
stomach. Gelsemium can be of use in treating the diarrhoea of
psychogenic origin.  The stomach, like the heart, is subject to
emotional stress.  Fear, stress a nd bad news are known to upset the
stomach.  This is also seen in Argentum Nitricum although other
symptoms are quite different.

Gelsemium can be compared also to Natrum Mur in some ways.  The
headache of Natrum Mur is as if being hammered, while the
Gelsemium headache generally begins as throbs over the nape of
the neck .  Gelsemium is very effective in treating the left-sided
headache that becomes settled at the nape of neck or radiates to the
neck. In addition, Onosmodium may also be very useful.  Both
Gelsemium and Onsomodium comb ined can be used to treat
migraine.  At times, the headache may ju st be due to excessive heat
but this may not come to one’s mind, therefore all the symptoms
should be considered carefully. It is essential to have a good working
knowledge of the working of the diseas e as well as the nature of the
remedy.  Whenever the correct Ho moeopathic remedy is used, the
patient will have a good sleep or will start passing urine freely.  In the
case of Gelsemium, the urination is free and clear like water.
Reduction in the severity of symptoms shows that Gelsemium was
certainly the right choice. Often in Gelsemium, emotional stress and
grief can induce physical illnesses.

Gelsemium is known for eye troubles  also, such as temporary
blindness.  This kind of blindness is  also found in other medicines,
though not as commonly as in Gelsem ium.  If one eye is affected,
Rhus Tox will suffice.  In some cases, Lachesis may also be useful.  In
Gelsemium, there is drooping of th e eyelids, which are difficult to
keep open (ptosis).  If this condition becomes chronic Gelsemium will
not be of much use any more.  It is useful in the beginning of the
condition.  The vision becomes blurred.  One pupil happens to be
dilated and the other constricted i.e.  the pupils are unequal in size.
The eye becomes red and swollen.  Vision is foggy or the field of
vision becomes occupied with spider webs.  Gelsemium is also useful
to treat the neurological  weakness of the eye muscles. Hands and feet
become partially paralysed. The li mbs quiver and feel drawn.  The
patient does not wish to walk for want of physical energy.

Regarding the catarrhal diseases (affecting the inner linings/mucous
membranes), the symptoms of Gelsemium resemble those of Natrum
Mur.  However, the patient of Natrum Mur is very thirsty and the
patient of Gelsemium not thirsty at  all.  In Gelsemium the patient
sneezes repeatedly.  The tip of the nose becomes insensitive.  Ears
may also become numb over the skin surface.  The skin is warm, dry
and itchy.  Gelsemium can prove effective immediately for these
conditions.

Boils form on the face and scalp .  Blisters form over the nerve ends,
which can be very painful and even harmful. This is called Shingles
(Herpes Zoster).  Gelsemium is also of significant advantage in
treating this condition.  I usually pr escribe a combination of Ledum,
Arnica and Arsenic.  Natrum Mur is also useful.  Generally, I prefer to
suggest a combination of any three, which proves very effective i.e. by
substituting one of the first three with Natrum Mur or Gelsemium as
indicated.  By the grace of Allah, in  my experience, within these five
remedies (Ledium, Arnica, Arsenic, Natrum Mur and Gelsmium),
most cases of shingles come under control.
Sometimes, epilepsy-like conditions can develop due to the disorder
of the stomach.  It is as if a flame or a flash erupts from the stomach
and rises up towards the head or the heart.  The patient may either
become unconscious or very dizzy, losing balance.  This is a symptom
of Gelsemium.  It results from gastric hyperacidity often seen in
sportsmen. Gelsemium will be found very useful in treating this
condition.  Certainly, this is not epilepsy as such.

The Gelsemium ailments become a ggravated in humidity and with
emotional stress.  Pass ing large amounts of urine freely and constant
light movement in open air give relief.

Antidotes: China, Coffea, Digitalis
Potency: 30 to 200

## Symptoms by System